Are You Being Stalked by Modern Technology?

For many, the Apple AirTag is a very useful gadget, but as with most things, there are those who have found ways to use them for more sinister purposes than finding their car keys. And it's not just the tiny Apple device doing the legwork for potential criminals. There are also similar devices being used, like a Tile or Samsung SmartTag tracker. AirTags are just the ones getting the most focus because of their popularity.

There have been incidents where people have found the small tracking devices dropped into their car's wheel wells in order to steal the car when it was more accessible, such as at night while the owner is sleeping. While this is a concern and might lead to someone breaking into a home to steal keys rather than using potentially damaging means of stealing a car, most thieves employing this method of theft are intent on quietly slipping away with your car in the night.

There is a far bigger concern than losing a car. Cars can be replaced.

What we're talking about here is personal safety.

The devices can be dropped into belongings such as a purse or gym bag in order to track a person's location. They can be placed inside cars by a domestic abuser to keep tabs on the location of their victim whenever they are away from home.

While manufacturers of these devices have taken steps to prevent these items from being used for nefarious purposes, it has been pointed out that there are ways to get around their safeguards. 

For instance, if you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch running iOS 14.5 or later, the AirTag includes a notification that says "AirTag found moving with you." However, someone using an older model of these items or using non-Apple electronics, may not get such a warning and be completely oblivious to being tracked.

Another safeguard included with AirTags involves having it play an alert if separated from its owner for more than three days. After that, the alarm would play at random times for 24 hours or less. Unless your car thief waits longer than that to steal your car, you'll never know the AirTag was there. 

In the case of domestic violence or stalkers, there's a good chance they'll be near your car with their phone on a regular enough basis to prevent the alarm from sounding. Even those who are estranged can simply venture near your car when you are asleep or at work if they want to prevent the alarm.

Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't use any of these devices to help you keep up with your property, but you do need to be aware of the abuse that can occur with them. As time goes on, the manufacturers will undoubtedly find new ways to prevent abuse, but with change comes adaptation, so it won't necessarily stop people from using them in a manner that was not intended.

In reality, there is currently no way to completely prevent someone from tracking you with such a device, which should frighten us all. The best you can do to protect yourself is to be careful who might be able to access your belongings and do manual checks for any devices that might have been slipped into accessible spaces if you have reason to believe it necessary.

Before returning from a public location, check the pockets of your clothes or bags. Check inside and outside of your car. The devices are small and can be easily hidden, but you'll want to do what you can to prevent being traced back to your home by someone looking to steal your car, rob you, or assault you.

In domestic situations, you'll usually be aware you're being tracked by what your abuser says. Do they know things they shouldn't? Did they casually ask what you bought at the mall when you didn't tell them you'd been there? If you suspect that they are stalking you, but have seen no signs of them physically doing so or they have an alibi for the time period in question, there's a chance they are using something like an AirTag to keep up with you. Check what you would have been wearing or carrying at the times they mention and look for a device there.

Use a Bluetooth tracker to scan your surroundings. This will identify if there is something like an AirTag nearby. You can then locate and identify the particulars of the device. They have serial numbers, possibly allowing you to track them back to their owners. You can do this without the owner even knowing you're on to them.

If you own an iPhone, you can download the Find My Device app from the Apple store and hold the AirTag up to the device you've found. If you tap on the name of the AirTag when it pops up, it will show you the serial number. You can also tap and hold the top of your NFC-capable iPhone or Android to the white side of the AirTag and a notification will appear. That will link you to a website that shows the serial number.

If neither of these is an option, you can always open up the device and locate the serial number in the battery compartment, but this will kill the signal and alert the owner that something has happened, as they'll no longer be able to see your location. If you have no reason to hide that you've found the device, you can simply disable it by twisting counter-clockwise on the back by the Apple logo and removing the battery.

Then again, you could just toss the thing in a canal, crush it under your foot, or toss it in the back of a garbage truck as it passes by. There is nothing stopping you from just destroying it or getting rid of it, but when you do, you lost the ability to determine who put it there.

You could even take it to the police department. Nothing will send a louder, clearer message than the device tracking to the authorities and remaining there with them. The owner will either think you've been arrested or know you've turned it over to the police.

Probably the biggest concern here are situations where the device is being used to stalk a current or former partner. If you suspect this is the case, get help immediately without alerting the stalker in any way. Only after you've discussed your situation with a domestic violence counselor should you take any action that might alert your stalker that you're onto them. If you don't already have one in place, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800–799-SAFE for assistance or even emergency services to bring the police to your location immediately, if you feel it necessary.